Internal combustion engine starter



April 26, 1932. y Q HODGES 1,855,632

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE STARTER Filed May 7, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l Invezz on April 26, 1932. v. c. HoDGEs 1,855,632

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE STARTER Filed May 7, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 nunziiunhfY f Hill-III a Invezzzoz".

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April 26, 1932. v C1 HODGES 1,855,632

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE STARTER Filed May 7, 1929 3 Sheets-Shee'fl 5 Patented Apr. 26, 1932.

UNITED STATES VERA C. HODGES, F Los ANGELES, CALIFORNIA INTERNAL COIBUSTION ENGINE STARTER Appumion ala :my 7, una).` sum1 n. :01,136.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction and mode of operation of electric motor driven starters for internal combustion en ines and to adapt the same for use particular y in airplanes and other situations where it is necessary that the starter should operate positively and the same at all times and inall positions of the apparatus,

. regardless of any influence from gravity.

One feature of the invention consists in the starting pinion being movable in a straight line into and out of mesh with a spur gear or other rotative element driven by the engine. In. this particular this starter mechanism vis distinguished from other starting mechanisms wherein the starting pinion has an arcuate movement concentric to the axis of the electric motor shaft or the pinion of the electric motor which drives said starter pinion.

Another feature of this invention is that'the starter pinion, although movable in a straight line for its adjustment and meshing with the rotative part driven by the engine, is always in mesh, partially or entirely, with the driving pinion of the electric motor.

Another feature of this invention is one which adapts it particularly for airplanes wherein thepropeller is mounted on the front end of the engine shaft and serves as a ywheel and the starter mechanism is permanently mounted in connection with the other end of the engine shaft. In the particular form .shown herein the engine shaft is compound or composed of two parts, a main par!I and an extension from the rear end thereof which is separable therefrom, but which'operatively is united therewith so that in operation the two parts are permanently unitedor act as one shaft.

This is accomplished by adding an exten sion splined into connection with the main engine shaft and held permanently in connec tion therewith and is not separable therefrom during the operation of the engine.

In this connection the starting mechanism is applied around said engine shaft extension, and instead of a fly-wheel a rotative element in the form of a spur gear isemployed that is operatively connected with the extension of the engine shaft by a friction clutch that is not separable during the operation of the device, said clutch mec anism being for the purpose of preventing back-tiring of the engine from injuring the starting mechanism.

Another feature of the invention is the worm gear driving connection between the electric motor shaft and the pinion for driving the starter pinion so as to materially increase the power generated, whereby a relativelyv small electric motor can start a relatively large internal combustion engine. This renders the starting construction relatively lighter, which is advantageous in all situations and particularly in airplanes.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention.

Fig. 1 is a semidiagrammatic plan view of an airplane with an engine starter constructed in accordance with this invention. Fi 2 1s an enlarged central vertical longitudinal section showing a detailed construction yof the starter control with the switch in circuit for starting the motor and the carriage fully released from a spur gear on the engine shaft when the engine is started. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, showing the support for the dogs for actuating the inion carriage. Fig. 4 is a cross sect1on on 'ne 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing the means for connecting the control wire to ythe slide rod. Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmental section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, showing the slide carriage in position after disengaging the pinion from the spur gear of the engine, parts being omitted for the sake of clearness in the drawings. Fig. 6 is a' fragmental view analogous to Fig. 5, with parts omitted, showing the carriage moved into position to en ge the starting pinion with the spur gear o the engine so that the latter can be started. Fig. 7 90 is a side view of the pinion carriage detached from the engine starter. Fig. 8 is a longitudinal section on line 8-8 of Fig. 7, showing the detailed construction of the carriage. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the carriage showing the bolt and pins for supportin it when mounted in the starter frame. ig. 10 is a fragmental longitudinal section on the line 10-10of Fig. 5, showing the starter attached to an engine, and also showing a detail of the clutch connection between the rotative element ofthe engine and the engine shaft, whereby in a back-fire the engine shaft can rotate without damage'to the engine starter.

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the starter control, the detail of which is shown in Fig. 2. Fig. l2 is a sectional view analogous to Fig. 2, showing the dogs engaged with the draw bar ready to move the carnage inposition for the starting pinion to engage the spur gear and the starter shaft.

The engine starter as shown herein is adapted particularly for airplanes but can be `used for starting internal combustion engines in any other kind of apparatus.

There is shown in Fig. 1 the body of an airplane 1, having an internal combustion engine 2 and crank shaft 3 therefor wit-hV a propeller 4 secured on the front end thereof and the engine starter mechanism is constructively, as well as operatively, connected with the rear end of the crank shaft and this connection is permanent, excepting that the parts may be dis-assembled.

The. airplane has the usual wings 5, ailerons 6, rudder 7, tail-pieces 8 and ailerons 9 connected therewith.

The engine starter is adapted for use with any engine, and includes a housing having a cylindrical casing 16 that terminates in a iange 17 that has holes 18 registering with holes 19 in a similar iange 20 on the engine housing 21, and the flanges are secured together by bolts 22. There are a large number of the holes 18 and 19 in the ianges so that the starter housing can be secured'in various desired positions relative to the engine.

The housing l5 is closed by a rear plate 23 that is secured in place by screws 24 and this plate has a roller bearing 25 that sup orts one end of the splined extension 26 o? the engine shaft 3 and its other end supported in a roller bearing 27 in the housing 21. Said extension shaft 26 has one end splined to fit a socket 28 on the engine shaft 3 so that both shafts are rotated together, as one engine shaft unit.

The other end of the engine shaft extension 26 has an abutment 30 with a hub 31 on which the spur gear or rotative element 32 is loosely mounted, and secured to the gear 32 by screws 33 is a clutch shell 34, having longitudinal grooves 35 into which extensions of the friction disks 36 are extended, and these disks are loosely mounted on the shaft 26 so that they rotate with the shell.

Arranged between each of the disks 36-are other friction disks 37 that have extensions 38 extending into grooves 39 in the shaft 26 and they rotate with the shaft 26 and loosely engage the inner wall of the shell so that the shaft 26 can rotate independently of the gear when there is backfire in the engine suiiicient vbearings 61, 62 (see Figs. 5, 6 and l0).

to' cause a reverse or backward rotation of the engine shaft.

Interposed between a plate 40 and 41 loosely mounted on the extension shaft 26 are springs 42 that'yieldingly hold the disks 36 and 37 of the clutch engaged so that under an ordinary load the gear 32 is driven with the engine shaft, but in a backfire of the engine the disks permit the clutch to slip and do no injury to any part of the starter. Posts 43 are arranged to guide the springs, and a lock nut 44 is provided on the shaft 26 to provide he-ight tension on the sprin gs 42 to carry the The extension or shaft 26 and rotative element 32 and associated parts are new and constitute an important feature of this invention or starter, especially in its adaptation for use in connection with internal combustion engines in airplanes. They are removably but permanently associated with an ordinary engine and its crank shaft used in airplanes, and the remaining starter mechanism 1s built around and in connection with said parts which are secured to the engine and its cam shaft, as shown in Fig. 10.

It is to be noted, however, that the. features of the starter besides said extension 26 and of element 32 can be used with other types of internal combustion engines.

The housing 15 of the engine starter is rovided with a chamber 45 etween the xed walls 46 and 47 thereof in which a carriage 48 is slidably mounted on the bolt 49 and pins 50, 51. The carriage 48 is bifurcated with parallel sides, as seen in Figs. 8 and 9, and provided with bearings 52 between the rear slot 53 for the bolt 49 and the slots 54 for the pins 50, 51.

A starter pinion 55 is rotatively mounted in said carriage on a shaft 56 that fits in the bearings 52, and normally this pinion is held out of mesh with the teeth of the gear 32, or arotative element of the engine, by a spring 57 that has one end connected to the fixed wall 46 and the other to a flange 58 on one of the side plates of the carriage 48.

The starter pinion 55 is normally in mesh with an electric motor driven pinion 59 secured on the shaft 60 that is mounted in the A worm gear 63 is secured on the shaft 60 and is driven by a worm 64 on the electric motor shaft 65. Shaft 65 is driven by the electric motor 66 that is attached to the housing 15 by strap 67 that is secured to said housing in any well known way. The electric motor 66 is provided with terminals 68 and 69 that have wires 70, 71 in circuit with a battery, not shown, and a switch control 76 shown in Fig. 11 and explained later. For the sake of brevity the battery and wiring to the switch are not shown as they are Well understood in the art.

There is secured to the carriage 48 an eyelet 72 to which one end of the draw wire 73 is connected, and the other end of this wire is secured to a block 7 4 in one end of the insulating thimble 75 in the switch control 76. This wire extends out through an openin(r in the wall 7 7 of the housing 15 and then over e pulley 78 secured to the plate 23 to the control switch and it is enclosed in a fiexible insulation 79 through which it is adapted to slip freely when moved.

It is to be noted that the carriage 48 when pulled by the wire 73 and 4returned by the spring 57 reciprocates and moves the starter pinion 55 always in astraight line and not` concentric with the axis of the motor driven pinion 59. Said straight line of movement of the starter pinion extends preferably perpendicular or at right angles to a line between the axis of the starter pinion 55 and the motor driven pinion 59, as seen in Fig. Then the starter pinion fully meshes with thegear 32 connected to the engine shaft andthe motor driven pinion 55.J Said straight linejof movement of the starter pinion also is preferably at an acute angle, say about 15, to a. straightv line between the axis of the rotative element 32 connected with the engine and axis ofthe starter pinion when idle, as seein iu'Fig. 5, and also at an acute angle with thev straight f" line from the axis of the starting pinion when idle and motor driven pinion 59, as is alsofseen in Fig. 5. This arrangement not only causes the starter pinion 55 t0 fully mesh with the gear 32 and pinion 59 while starting the` engine but when disengaged from the gear 32 and in its idle position it remains partially in mesh at all times with the motor driven pinion 59.

The starter control includes an insulated housing 80 t t can be secured to the dashboard 82 in the cock-pit 83 of an airplane 84, as indicated diagrammatieallyin Fig. 1. The housing 80 is preferably rectangular and has a lid 85 secured to the bodv thereof by bolts and screws 87, 88, the housing being up-ended as seen in Fig. 2.

Adjacent the` upper end of the housing 80 and extendingA centrally and transversely through the lid and body thereof there is an insulating tube 89 in which a draw bar 90 is secured and this tube and bar extend out into a cylindrical casing 91 having a flange 92 secured to the lid 85 of the housing 80. The outer end of this casing is closed by a disk 93 that is secured in place by screws 94, and secured centrally in the disk 93 is an insulated plug 95 through which the wire 73 is extended and in which the insulation tube 79 is secured by cross pins 96. It is noted that the thimble 75 is slidable on the end of the draw bar 90 t'o an extent indicated in Figs. 2 and 12.

A dog carrying block 97 is secured by a pin 98 to the draw bar 90 inposition for the dogs 99 to engage an annular collar 100 on the insulated sleeve 75 and draw the sleeve toward the housing 86' when the apparatus is to be actuated to start the engine. The dogs 99 are pivotally mounted on pins 101 and are normally pressed inwardly toward the axis of the casing 91 by'springs 102. The right hand end of the dogs, as seen in Fig. 2, are beveled on their outer faces so that, when they encrage the cam blocks 103, they will be forced toward the axis of the casing 91 to release thel other end of the dogs from the annular collar 10() so that the springs 57 on the starter pinion carriage 48 can hold the pinion 55 disengaged from the gear 32 or rotative art of the engine after the engine has started The starter is operated from the cockpit by handle 118 and wire 104. This moves the block 97 toward the housing 86. Wire 104 is secured by a pin 105 to the end 106 of the draw bar 90, and extending over the rear end of the draw bar there is a sleeve 107 having a. flange 108 against which one end of the spring 109 is arranged. The other end 4of the spring 109 engages a plug 110 that extends through the end 111 of a casing 112. This casing has a flange 113 that is secured to the housing 86 by screws 114.

The wire 104 slides freely through the insulating plug and also through the flexible insulating tube 115 that is secured to the plug 110 by cross pins 116. rfYhe other end of the Wire 104 can be connected to a lever, pedal or handle for operation. As shown in Fig. 1, thiswire 104 extends'to both the coekpits 83 and 183 and is provided with the handles 117 and 118.by which the apparatus can be operated from either cockpit. a

The control line at the start is continuous, as seen in Fig. 12, for the dogs 99 then engage collar 100 on the thimble 75 and move it rearward until after the electric motor is started.

The operators pull on wire 104 and draw bar 90 first moves the carriage 48 and starter pinion 55 from the idle'position in Fig. 5 towards the position in Fig. 6 and before the pinion' reaches the engine gear 32, the electric motor is started by said movement of wire 104 and draw bar 90 and the following means.

A switch for starting the electric motor includes the terminals 119 and 120 arranged in the housing 80 so that,- when the draw bar 90 is actuated to engage the pinion 55 with the gear 32, it will also cause a contact between the spring 121 and conductor 122. This is accomplished by means of an insulating block 123 secured to the sliding insu- I lating tube 89 and normally it is out of contact with the spring 121, as seen in Fig. 12.

When the wire 104 and draw bar 90 are pulled to start the engine, contact between the spring 121 and cdi'ductor 122 is formed so that the f i The pinion 55 is held in mesh by the rotation of the gears 59 and 32 untilthe engine has started. The engine gear 32 then disengagcs the starter pinion 55 and spring 57 holds it out in idle posit-ion.

Aftenl the Wire 104 and draw bar 90 are re-V leased by the operator, the spring 109 acts to break the contact between the spring 121 and conductor 122 by moving the insulating block 123 back into normal position. Also there is a spring 124 interposed between one end of the tube 89 and the block 97 to coact with the spring 109 for moving the dogs back into position to re-engage th'e flange 100 when all parts are released and moved to normal position.

The operation of the starter mechanism is as follows:

The starter pinion and control means are as shown in Figs. 5 and 12 when idle. 'lo start the engine the handle 118 in the cockpit is pulled, thus pulling the draw wire 104, draw bar 9() connected therewith, block 97, dogs 99 and thimble 75 as `shown in Fig. 12. and the draw wire 73 that is connected with the carriage 48.

That will move the starter pinion from the position shown in Fig. 5 towards the position shown in Fig. 6, and thereafter said pull on said connection with the starter pinion carriage will move the block 123 from the position shown in Fig. 12 to that shown in Fig. 2 and bring the terminals 121 and 122 into contact and thereby starting the electric motor. This occurs before the starter pinion has become fully in mesh with the rotative gear 32 connected with the engine.. Such pull by the operator of the draw bar 90 and dogs 99 will move said dogs from the position shown in Fig. 12 to the position shown in Fig. 2, wherein they release their connection with the thimble 75. When the starter pinion 55 has thus been fully moved into mesh withthe gear 32 connected with the engine, as shown in Fig. 6, the engine will be started. As soon as the engine is started said gear 32 will kick out the pinion 55 and disengage it and the spring 57 will return from the position shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 5 and hold it disengaged. When the operator releases the handle 118 in the cock-pit, the spring 109 will return the control means to their normal position, that is from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that shown in Fig. 12, and the dog 99 will again engage the collar 100 and the electric motor switch will be opened.

The spring 124 is merely to cushion the sleeve 89 and electric motor switch, but has no effect on the starter pinion.

While this internal combustion engine starter is adapted peculiarly for use in airplanes, theinvention, however, is not limited in all particulars to airplane use, as the same may be adapted for use in automobiles and boats.

It is noted that the parts of the mechanism are all positively o erated and operate regardless of any in uence of gravity. 'Also the starting pinion is not moved into mesh with the rotative element of the engine by the electric motor, directly or indirectly, but it is moved into mesh with the rotative element connected with the engine shaft positively by means actuated by the operator, and after such starting inion moving means has been operated, at east to some extent, said means starts the electric motor. Hence if the electric motor were accidentally started, it would be harmless in this construction as the starting` pinion would not be in mesh with the rotative part of the engine and there are no dangers from that condition.

It is noted that the means actuated or pulled by the operator for starting the engine is located -in the cockpit usually occupied by the operator, and if desired can also be in the passengers cockpit, which is an additional safeguard if an accident should happen to the operator in the rear cockpit, and also it is useful in teaching persons to operate an airplane.

It is noted also that in the airplane construction as indictaed in Figs. 9 and 10, the

rotative gear 32 which has been operatively connected with the crank shaft 3 of the engine may be relatively light, as it is unnecessary for it to perform the function of a flywheel, since that function is performed by the propeller at the other end of the crank shaft.

Also the starter mechanism as constructed for an airplane engine is all built together as a unit, as shown in Fig. 3, and while the extension shaft 26 may be separated from the main crank shaft 3 in disassembling it, during the use and operation of the device they are held positively united by the means shown, and the danger resulting from the possible kick-back of the engine is prevented by the intervention of the friction clutch, but such clutch is not modifiable by the operator but is always in operative condition, having suiiicient friction to transmit power and yet ability to slip in case of a kick-back and thereby relieve the gear 32 and other parts of the starter.

The parts of said starter may be associated in ordinaryv engine construction where the rotative element is permanently associated with the engine, and the remaining starter mechanism is added thereto substantially the same as herein shown. Thus the construction shown in Fig. 5 for controlling the movement of the starter pinion and the control shown in Figs. 2 and 12 therefore, may be used in connection with any engine if desired, and the electric motor can also be differently located from that shown in Fig. 10

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wherein it is mounted in connection with the housing that surroundsxthe end of the extension and crank shaft and rotative gear thereon and with the housing of the engine.

I claim as m invention:

1.` A sta-rter or an internal combustion engine, includinia rotative element operatively t the engine, an electric motor fixed position near said roconnected wi driven pinion in tat-ive element, a starter pinion mesh With said motor driven pinion, a carriage in which said starter pinion is rotatably mounted, fixed means in which said carriage is mounted so as to be reciprocable in a straight line to move the starter pinion into mesh with said rotative element connected with the engine, and means movement of the carriage.

2. A starter for an internal combustion engine, including a rotative element operatively connected with the engine, an electric motor driven pinion in iixed position near said rotative element, a starter pinion always in mesh with said motor driven pinion, a carriage in which said starter 'pinion is rotat ably mounted, fixed means in which said carriage is mounted so as to be reciprocable in a straight line to move the starter pinion into mesh with said rotative element connected with the engine and as said starter pinion moves out of mesh with said rotative element, means operated by the operator for positively moving said carriage to effect said engagement, and a spring for causing the return of said carriage.

3. A starter for an internal combustion engine, including a rotative element operatively connected with the engine, a starter housing in fixed position, an electric motor driven pinion mounted therein in fixed position near said rotative element, a starter pinion adapted to mesh with said motor driven Pinion at all times, a carriage in which said starter pinion is rotatably mounted that is slidably mounted in said housing in such position that the movement of the carriage to its limit in one direction will move the starter pinion into starting position in mesh with said rotative element for starting the engine and the movement of the carriage to the limit in the opposite direction will disengage the starter pinion, and positively acting means for causing said reciprocatory movement of the carriage.

4. A starter for an internal combustion engine, including a rotative element operatively connected with the engine, a starter housing in fixed position, an electric motor driven pinion mounted therein in fixed position near said rotative element, a starter pinion adapted to mesh with said motor driven pinion at all times, a slidable carriage in which said starter pinion is rotatably mounted with transverse slots therein, fixed guide and sto pins in said housing extending through sai always infor effecting said` slots in the carriage, said parts being in such ositionthat movement o the carriage to its imit .in one direction will move the starting pinion into mesh with the rotative element of the engine, and movement of the carriage in the opposite direction to its will -disengage the starting pinion from said tion near said rotative element, a starter pin- ,y

ion adapted to mesh with said motor driven pinion at all times, a carriage in which said starter pinion is rotatably mounted that is slidably mounted in said housing in such p6'- sition tliat the movement of the carriage to its limit in one direction will move the starter pinion into starting position in mesh with said rotativeelement and the movement of the, carriage to the limit in the opposite direction will disengage the starter pinion, means actuated by the operator for positively moving said carriage into pinion engaging position with said rotative element, and a spring for holding said carriage when the starting pinion is in idle position.

(i. A starter for an internal combustion cngine, including a rotative element operatively connected with the engine, a starter housing in lixed position, an electric motor driven pinion mounted therein in fixed position near said rotative element, a starter pinion adapted to mesh with said motor driven pinion at all times, a carriage in which said starter pinion is rotatably mounted that is slidably mounted in said housing in such position that the movement of the carriage to its limit in one direction will move the starter pinion into starting position in mesh with said rotative element and the movement of the carriage to the limit in the opposite direction will disengage the starter pinion, and positively acting means for causing said reciprocatory movement of the carriage, the reciprocatory movement of said carriage being in a straight line which is substantially perpendicular to the line from the axis of the motor driven pinion and the axis of said starting pinion when the latter is in mesh with said rotative element.

7. A starter for an internal' combustion engine, includnga rotative element operatively connected with the engine, a starter housing in fixed position, an electric motor driven pinion mounted therein in fixed position near said rotative element, a starter pinion adapted to mesh with said motor drivenpinion at all times, a carriage in which said starter pinion is rotatably mounted that is slidably mounted in said housing in siich position that :the movement of the carriageto its limit in one direction will move the starter pinion into starting position in mesh with said rotative element and the movement of the carriage to the limit in the opposite direction will disengage the starterpinion, and positively acting means for causing said reciprocatory movement of the carriage, the reciprocatory movement of said carriage being 1n a straight line which is at an acute angle to a straight line extending between the axis of the -motor driven pinion and the axis of .the starter pinion when the latter is in idle position and to a straight line between the axis of said rotative element connected with the engine and axis of the starter pinion when in idle position.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto aixed my signature.4

VERA. C. HODGES. 

